Chain



G. HORVA'TH. CHAIN.

1,404,705' Affucmon FILED AuGLzo, |921. Patentedlune 27, 1922.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. HOHVATH.

CHAIN.

APPUCATION FILED AUG-20 1921. 1,420,705. l

mme@ June 27, ma

a sHEETs-sHET 2. A

wow,

G. HOBVATH.

CHAIN.

1,420,705' APPLICATION FILEDAUG-ZO. 192,]-

3 SHEETS-suur a.

Sme/Moz GEZA inoiavnrii, or- HIGHLAND r-ARK, MioHreAN.

01min,

ESpeccaton-of; LettersPatent. Patented June.- 425751922.

` Application filed August 20, 1921. ,Seriali,No.;llflltl'?.v l

,W'ayne and State-of lVichigan, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, of whichthe ollowingia a specification, reference b eing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto chains and conspeciallreference to Vrack relative 'tofone another, and associated` with i such members arefloating members which;

veyors, and has chains that may be advantageouslyused as conveyors or carriersr in connection withovens, baths, kilns, a nd stuctures `through which articles may be conveyed, to be dried, baked, coated, or'otherwise'treated. As an instance of thev use ofsuch. chains orconveyors is the drying of wet` 'li thographing material which has been applied to-tin, or other metallic sheets. Another instance is the drying or baking of lacquered or enameled ware, and in either instance'a suitably heated oven is employed with the rack chains or carriersvpassing'..therethrough so'Y i heat.

that the platesv or ware will receive a treatment while travelling from one endof the oven to theopposite end.

supportedon the chains.` In the instanceof lithographie plates `considerable care must be exercised to preventthe plates from being injured, and proper spacing of the arms of the chain vwill greatly facilitate the loadinfr and unloading of a 4plate -conveyor.

l`he primary object of my .invention is toV provide rack` chains or carriers that havebeen particularly Adesigned for supporting rand maintaining, in spaced relation, lithographie plates or sheets', and the chains are composed of articulated the chains, permi`t of easy lloading and unloading, anddecrease the usual length of a Vdrying or baking oven.

which are maintained-in adenedrelatioin l particularly while the driven and floating members are adjacent drive members. Y

A further object this Vinventi'o-n is to provide conveyor chains affording uninterrupted supports for ,plates or articles on the llhenV plates or sheets are to be conveyed through an oven the chains are provided with spacers ory arms between whichplates arejplaced and` driven and float membersl .which will increase the carrying capacity of chain, and said chains are constr'uctedfor A designed to` prevent sagging, particularly when in engagement `'with drive members, so thatthere j wil'l be va defined relation v Voit spacersor supportsl on the chains while moving other 'thanlinV a straight KVAor rectilinear direction.

f A still'further' object offthis inventiony is to lprovide a chain composedofrarticulated members which, lwhen rrricnyfed' otherthan in a straight direction, assume obtuseV anglesk i assume angles relative to the articulated members'-and represent thebase of atriangle i Y formed by ada'acent articulatedmembers.`

(The above are a ,few ofthey objectsat! defined bythe app ended, claims.

vReterencewillnowb'e h dtothedrawing, i

Figure 1 is a-side,elevationlofY a drying or baking apparatus, including fan oven,

showing an endless COIlveyOr or carrier,` vin accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional same;

Fig. 8 isan enlarged side, elevationQo-fa drive member about which the conveyor Aor carrier is trained; Y 'L 1, Fig. 4: isa crossrsectional view .otthe same showingthe manner of supportingthe conveyorrelativeto the drivemember; l

Fig. 5 isa similar View showing the man view of. the

ner oit' establishing la driving relation1bevtween the conveyorl and the drive member;

' Fig. 6 is aplan of a portionkotthe `chain ,Figzfr is aside elevationof the saine showorming part of vthe conveyor';

ing by `dash lineslhow thefchain. may ,travel i' in a curvilinear direction;

Fig. JSLisV a cross`sectional view, takenion Fig.j9 is a'perspectivevi'ew -ofseparated driven members or links of the c'hainfand.;

Fig. 10 is arperspectiv-eviewcioneaof the floatingmembers,` ofgthe chain.

, and as showing` such use reference willlirst be had yto l3 `igur`es` 1l` to Y5 inclusive', zparticularly F ig.lsho wing anloblongoven llprovided -[with a conventional; form.oi`-h9.ting apparatus 'The oven. l I mayV .be .supported iior ' lation betweenv the vchains and vsaid driveV 4 and 5, each composed of channel rails with the track 4 disposed longitudinally within the oven and a track 5 disposed lon-V gitudinally beneath the oven. At the ends of the frame work 3 are adjustable bearings 6 for transverse shafts 7 and 8, the latter being driven from a suitable source of power, for instance by a belt 9 and a belt wheel 10.

` On the shafts 7 and '8 arel longitudinally aligning sets of driven members 11, somewhat similar to sprocket wheels, each mem-- ber, as best shown in Fig. 3, having its peripliery provided with large recesses 12 and small recesses 13, said large and small recesses valternating about the periphery of the driven member. 'The driven members areV adapted to support and move an endless conveyor or carrier, composed` of two .endless parallelchains and the chains are Ysupported by the Vtracks 4 and 5 during movement in or below the oven l.

The chains are identical in construction,therefore only one will be described and reference will now be had to Figs. 6 to 10 inelusive.

The chain is composed Aof articulated driven members, each member comprising a side lugs 16 having barrels 17. At the `opposite end of the body 14 is a single barrel 18 and a side recess 19. The single barrel 18 isof less width than the distance between the barrels 17 .at the vopposite end of the body, and the single barrel 18 is adapted to.

be 'placed against the inner wall or side face of one ofthe barrels 17 of an adjacent member and leaves sufficient rooin 'for the single barrelv 2O of .a floating member 21. VThe barrels 17, 18,and 20 are then in alignment Y and may be pivotally connected or artcuV lated by a transverse rod 22 wl'iichextends to and connects similar articulated driven members forming part of the other chain,

which, togetherl with the chain now being described, composes the endless conveyor or carrier. The ends of the transverse rod 22 are provided with rollers 23 adapted to erigage in the large recesses Y12 of the drive members 11 and thus establish a driving remembers.

Thus lfar driven members are articulated by the transverse rods 22 and instead of using rods for connecting all of thefdriven members, I use short pins or stud shafts 24 alternating with the rods 22 and the outer ends of the pins or shafts 24 have heads 25 adapted to engage in the small` recesses 13 of the drive members 11 and prevent articulated driven members from sagging between the driving points established between the drive member 11 and the chain. ln otherl words, Y times maintained in a defined relation when trained about a drive member.

Considering two adjacent or articulated driven members, with special reference to Figs. 6 and 9, the recess 19 of one member is at an opposite side ofone member from the recess of the adjacent member, the recesses alternating in this mannerthroughout the length of the chain. The purpose kof such alternating recesses is to permit of the floating members 21 being alternately arranged, some at one side of the chain and some at the other side. With thebarrel ends of the floating members 21 pivotally supported on the rods 22 and the barrel ends of adjacent floating members pivotally supported on the pins or shafts 24, the floating members can be placed alternately at opposite sidesof the chain and said floating members have side bosses or guides 26 adapted to engage in the Yside/recesses 1 9 of the bodies 14. y The guides .coeoperat-e with abutments 15 and endsof u the bodies14 in limiting any breaking down body 1.4 having one end thereof bifurcated n or forked to provide an abutment 15 and.

movement of the joint between driven ineinbers. In other words, the joints between the articulated members rmay break up orout, as is necessary, when the chain passes about a drive member, otherwise the abutting ends of thearticulated members will maintain .said members in alignment and this is esvpivotally held and ends slidably held, the

floating members 21 may adjust themselves joint between the articulated members of the chain. The curved portions 27 of the floating Lmembers will moveV away from theV barrels of articulated nfieinbers and vas said members'` assume an V'angular' relation relative to each other, the floating'members associated with such angular articulated members will assume anangle representing the base of a triangle formed by the 4floating the driven members will be at all during the breakinev or ad'ustment of the 63 h member and its adjacent articulated members.

The bodies 14 ofthe articulated members, adjacent the 'abutments 15, are provided kwith angularly disposedl sockets -28 for spacers orarms 29 which extend'upwardly from theupper supporting surface ofthe chain and it is betweenl such spacers that plates or 'articles may be placed. The

" spacers of. one chain will transverselyl align.

`with the spacersof the othery chaiirand in`r order to increase and: practically double the carrying capacity of t e .ohaiins,=.theiloating members 42l` are provided;withpangularly dis-- posed sockets 3() tor spacersor -aiiiis3l.`

similar tothe spacers or arms `29. vThe spacersl ofthe Vfloating. members will be v.alternately arran ed at opposite sides of.

. the chain and the p an'es ,of the spacers '31 chain will be farther apart than the inner:-

are equally spaced from the planes o'fgthe spacers29 when'rthe; chain is in a horizontal position. Equal spacing-is `also maintained,

when the chain passes'about a drive member, by the floating members 2l and this is -best brought out in Figzwhere it will be :noted that the plane of the spacers 3l bi ,sectsl the angle formed bythe planes of conev tiguous spacers 29. It isl obvious that the outer ends ofthe 'spacers 29 and .31 of each conveyor chain at the ends of the ovenl.

1 by which the floating members may be self Lithographie platesl may be readily placed between the spacers `with theedges of said plates resting on the up per surfaces of the chains land there isf no c anger of the plates slipping or becoming accidentallyy displaced While passing` vthroughfthewoven. Thel pockets or stalls are.,opened sufficiently to permit oi' the plates being easily inserted in the pockets or removed therefrom.

On account .of the floating members the chains cannotpass about the drive members l1 similar to a sprocket chain on a sprocket wheel, so the chains are supported atthe inner faces of. the drive members, as best brought out in Figs. 4 and 5', and thefroll ers 23 will co-operate with the abutting ends of the articulated members in preventing the chains from sagging when moving longitudinally of the oven. I attach considerable importance to the Jfact that the loating members are free to adjust themselves, that there is practically no Weight on the Alloating members and that such members are not depended upon for establishing a driving relation between members-oi' the chain or between the chain and vthe drive member. I have shown the floating members asl having side guides or bosses to engage in the recesses of the articulated members, but it is apparent that the free shifting ends of the floating members may be forked or bifurcated to ride on the rods 22 and the pins 24, or any other arrangement may be provided adjusting and assume angular relations different from that of the articulated driven members. i

It is thought that the operation and lated Vmembers by L-,w-hich saidsupport'is lapproximately 44equally spaced when adjaycentsaidlriveniember. f

base of a triangle -utility-:olmyv chains or conveyor will be apiparentV without further-descript1on,and-,

while in the drawings theref-is' illustratedja size, i shape, -and ymanner ofl asseinblagdgas f fall withinthe'scope ofthe,appended claims.

lV'hat claiinfS:- i. i i In a -movable driven support vr.articuf driven, spacers: on v`said' :members fgitloating f preferredv embodiment` of my invention', it 'is to be 'understoodv that .the structural ielel k7o mentsare susceptiblefto such changes', ain

'members carried by said articulatedjmemi bers, and spacersonsaidgiloating members.

2. A driven s upportas inclaim l trained.

ona drive; member .andthey relation i of said floating members to said. articulated meinybersv being suchthatfaltofsaid spacer-sare Y 3. Y driven. support for spacers comprising articulated-vmembers, and lioat-ingaimemv.bers 1 carried by -saidarticulated members .and cooperating therewith in equallygjspacing; said spacers for rectilinear. anchcurvilinearmovement.' Y, f. 4. The combinationofdrive. membersgarticulated driven-members trainedaaboutsaid drive members., fspacers acarr-ed by. said driven members, rollers supporting;said..` drivenmembers;relativewto said rlrivefmem# berslandfestablishing a driving relation,-a nd means ca'rriedby sa'id-drivenmembers (and engaging-saidldrive membersftoestabliish a r defined angular relation between said driven members when adJacent said drive membersso as to maintain said spacers in a de- -iined angular and spaced relation.

The lcombination .set forth in -claimV 4 y wherein some of' said drivenl membersk are extend in planesvthatbisect the angularly disposed planes of adjacentspacers.

6. A chain composed of articulated meme lbers which when-'moved other than "in a straight direction assume an obtuse angle relative to one another, Vandiloating members supported from said articulated mem'f 115 bers and which floating members y assume anglesY relative to saidarticulated members with each floating member representing the ticulated members.

7. A chain as inV claim 6 wherein .each

ported by an articulated member, and .the

formed adjacent ar-v- 12o floating member has one end Y pivotally ysupother end slidably supported by an adj acent' i direction. v 9. An endless conveyor-comprising. paryging of the chain when moving injastraight j ica-'f freely supported fby adjacent driven mem#y bers, and are provided with spacers which'.

allel chains,'drive members about which said `chains are trained', rods .connectingl said chains, rollers on the ends of said rods adapted'to engage said drive members and establish a driving relation therewith, and pins'carried by said chains adaptedto engage said drive members and prevent sagging of portions of said chains.

' 10. An endless conveyor as in claim 9'and tracks between said dri-ve members and on which said rollers travel and support the chains at the inner sides ofsaid`A tracks and drive members,

11. An endless conveyor adapted to support plates on edge,- said conveyor comprising chains7 each composed of articulated members and oating members, and spacers 1 carried by saidmembers andproviding stalls for the plates; the relation between said arv ticulated and floating chain members being such that the spacers ofsaidjfloating members may adjust themselves lequi-distantfrom the spacers of'said articulated members.

12. A conveyor as in claim 11 wherein said fioating members have ends pivotally supported by some of said articulated members and the opposite ends loosely supv ported by other of said articulated members.

13. Al chain Aconstruction includingplate sustaining members pivotally connected end to end, floating members having ends sup- 2 ported at the pivots of said plate sustaining members and opposite ends loosely supported by adjacent members7 andnieans carried by said floating members adapted to assist in retaining plateson said plate sustaining members. .v

141-. A chain of the type described comprising pivotally connected driven members7 arms carried thereby, Heating memof each chain, arms carried 'by said chains,-

and arms carried bysaid members and cooperating with the arms of said chains in providing stalls above saidr chains.

17. The combination of chains providing stalls, and self adjustingvmembers carried by said chains and subdividing the stalls-of said chains.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses. A

GEZA HORVATILL Vitnesses z ANNA M. DORR,

KARL H. BUTLER. 

